The $2.5 million project will erect a 5,500-square-foot building on Rt. 58 just north of Burger King. The facility will offer primary and walk-in care as well as occupational health services.

Ed Oley, president and CEO of Mercy Health’s Lorain region, said the center is expected to open next fall.

“We’re going to have some of the most modern mechanisms available here for registering our patients,” he said. “Rather than clipboards and notepads, we’ll have stand-up kiosks. As they first enter the facility, they’ll immediately see that things are very different from what they’ve typically experienced.”

All Mercy offices located at 508 Dickson St. will eventually move into the new space.

One additional primary care physician will be hired to work alongside family doctor Saadia Hussain, who’s practiced in Wellington for the past five years.

“It’s all about creating more access and care for patients in this area,” she said. “The patients of Wellington need this facility and to have more testing and services available locally. I’m just excited. It’s going to be good for everyone and it’s something to look forward to.”

Conceptual drawings for the project were first presented to the village planning commission this past June. The building is slated to have eight treatment rooms and possibly X-ray amenities.

Mayor Hans Schneider said efforts to bring the center to Wellington date back to the tenure of his predecessor, Barbara O’Keefe.

“Mayor O’Keefe laid the groundwork by opening up the conversation with Mercy and keeping the idea afloat,” he said. “After I came into office, Mercy reached out and asked if we were still interested. Of course, we said, ‘By all means.’ We want to provide as many services to this community as we can. Adding this center to our already exemplary safety services is a big win for Wellington. It’s good for the entire southern end of the county.”

As it stands, Oberlin’s Mercy Health Allen Hospital is the closest location for Wellington residents to seek care.

“It’s a great commitment by Mercy to this community,” Schneider said. “We just had Tractor Supply come in down the road and Forest City Technologies expand. There’s great things happening here and it’s through the efforts of many people, some who are still here and some who aren’t.”

Jonathan Delozier can be reached at 440-647-3171 or @DelozierNews on Twitter.